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Beside him, Connor leapt up from the couch. “Well what are we waiting for? Let’s go to her.”
Elliot nodded. “There’ll be a driver ready for us in half an hour. I’ve already booked a flight.”
They fell quiet again, each lost in his own thoughts. I felt terrible for them, but even more for poor Sherri. We’d spoken three times on the phone already, and were just developing a rapport. I had no idea about her father, though.
“What can I do?”
I blurted the words against the silence. Although I meant well, they sounded harsh and out of place.
“Nothing unfortunately,” Elliot replied. “Other than stay here and hold things down for us. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
“Of course,” I nodded.
The others filed out, leaving me alone with Elliot. He looked even more distraught than before. It was easy to see how much his friend meant to him.
“This was always a possibility,” he went on, talking more to himself than me. “We’d just hoped… well…”
I went to him. Reaching out, I slid a comforting arm over his shoulder. “I know.”
He paused at his desk, holding one of his drawers half open. Like a robot that ran out of batteries. My fingers tried rubbing, but it felt like trying to penetrate a brick wall. The tension in his neck was unbelievable.
“We’ll be back in a day or two,” he said numbly. “Three tops.”
“I’ll be here,” I said. “Anything you need, call me. I’ll take care of it.”
Elliot turned his gaze on me and smiled. “I know you will.”
“You go and take care of your friend. And tell Sherri she’s in my thoughts.”
His smile widened, and I felt a tiniest bit of tension go out of his shoulders. His eyes looked world-weary, though. Very out of place on such a young, handsome face.
“The implantation isn’t going to happen now,” he said matter-of-factly. “Not for a long while. It might not happen at all, at least with Sherri.”
The words were hard for him to get out. They kept getting stuck along the way.
“I’m so sorry,” was all I could think of to say.
“Jordyn, I want you to understand that you’re welcome to stay as long as you need to. For as long as you like.”
I swallowed hard, trying to get past the lump in my throat. “That’s very genero—”
“I’mserious,” Elliot interjected. “We’ll pay all moving expenses when you do find a place, and help you with the first few month’s rent, too. It’s the least we can do. But at the same time…”
He paused for a moment, and our eyes locked. Both his and mine were glassy.
“I think I speak for all of us when I say we really love you being here.”
Eighteen
JORDYN
The next few days were lonely, so I kept myself busy with work and took extra shifts.Shatter IIwas far exceeding Dante’s expectations. He appreciated the help and gave me free rein when it came to materials — especially since sales at the front end were booming, and we were booked solid in terms of classes.
At night though, I still had to go home.
The house was empty without the guys, but I made the best of it. I turned on all the lights and lit the fireplace in my quarters. I took time to cook for myself each night, and ate in front of the television to keep myself company. I even brought home a few of my own pieces — the abstract ones I loved so much but just couldn’t sell. They looked great in the empty alcoves of the stuccoed hallways, but I left my favorite piece — the blue and orange one I called ‘fire and ice’ — in the center of the little table in Elliot’s office.
I kept in contact with the guys, through text-messages and a few phone calls as well. I also got in touch with Sherri, and that conversation was more difficult. Having lost both my parents very suddenly, I hadn’t experienced anything like what she was going through. I gave her all I could offer though: my love and support.
